Bulls All-Stars share honor with teammates, coaches and friends

Deng and Noah give credit for success to those who support them every day

January 25, 2013|By K.C. Johnson, Chicago Tribune reporter

Remember when interim coach Jim Boylan suspended Joakim Noah during his rookie season for berating assistant coach Ron Adams and teammates Ben Wallace and Adrian Griffin led a team vote to extend Noah's suspension to two games?

Noah does. And now that he's an unlikely All-Star in his sixth season, he looked back at such growth experiences and added them to the long list of thank-yous he started on Twitter after he and Luol Deng earned Eastern Conference All-Star reserve berths Thursday.

"I wouldn't be here without my teammates, coaches and this organization," an eloquent Noah said following Friday's morning shootaround. "They believed in me. I came in as a young, loud (rookie), probably a little immature and just with a big mouth. They believed in me through the good times and hard times. I just wanted to say I appreciated them."

Deng sounded equally sincere in praising those around him for helping him to his second straight selection.

"Consistency is a big part of what I want to be and what I do," Deng said. "I don't think I would get it if we don't have the record we have. It says a lot about our team and coaching staff. I didn't get it the first year with Coach (Tom Thibodeau) but I felt I had a great year that year. The system is perfect. It allows me to show a lot more than scoring.

"The great thing about being an All-Star and being recognized is it's not about you. It's more like a thank you for everybody else who helped you get there. That's why I think Jo's reaction, giving a shout out to everybody he knows, it's a moment for him to let those people know this is really him celebrating with them. And for me the same thing."

Both players praised Thibodeau and his staff for helping them develop.

"Every game we give ourselves a chance to win," Deng said. "No matter who is hurt or in the lineup, he finds a way to get guys going and the next guy stepping up. He puts guys in the perfect position to succeed."

Thibodeau, who also advocated that Carlos Boozer make the team, shifted the credit back to the players.

"They're both team-first guys and they put such a premium into work and winning and playing for the team," Thibodeau said. "I'm thrilled for them. The commitment they've made, to me that's the best type of leadership you can have. It's more through their actions, what they do each day."

Deng said he took no extra relish in silencing critics who strongly suggested he get wrist surgery this offseason or skip his heartfelt Olympic commitment to Britain because of his torn ligament.

"I never listen to what everybody else is saying. I go by how I feel," Deng said. "I play hard and work hard. It's never about all those people. And I really mean that. People may disagree with that, but I'm not out here trying to prove everybody wrong. I know what I can do."

Deng and Noah will relish being teammates in the Feb. 17 game in Houston. It's the second straight year the Bulls have placed teammates in the game after Deng and Derrick Rose last year.

"It's really special to me to be able to go with Lu," Noah said. "He's one of my best friends on the team and he's somebody, for African players, he's kind of like an ambassador, somebody who does a lot for the kids out there. He understands it's more than just playing basketball."